News

A new, modified method for removal of the thymus (thymectomy) in patients with myasthenia gravis can help achieve complete resection along with minimal scarring, leading to better cosmetic results, a new case report shows. The study, “Modified unilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy for myasthenia gravis using 5-mm incisions: A case report,” was…

Mutations in the genetic sequence of the IL4R gene can increase the risk of myasthenia gravis in the Chinese Han population, the world’s largest ethnic group, researchers reported. The finding was part of the study “IL-4Rα Polymorphism Is Associated With Myasthenia Gravis in Chinese Han Population”…

A Phase 1 study in healthy volunteers shows that argenx’s efgartigimod (ARGX-113) holds potential as a safe and effective therapy to reduce autoimmune disease-associated antibodies in many disorders, including myasthenia gravis. Findings from the study, “Neonatal Fc receptor antagonist efgartigimod safely and sustainably reduces IgGs in humans,” were…

The thymus may play a central role in the regulation of autoimmunity that drives the coexistence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and myasthenia gravis (MG), as well as in treatment response of patients with both disorders, a case series suggests. This finding resulted from an analysis of four…

Early support from a diverse team of clinicians is key to successfully managing pregnancy in women with myasthenia gravis, particularly if a pregnancy is complicated by pre-eclampsia, a case report highlights. The report recommends that pregnant women with the disease receive…

Surgical removal of the thymus to treat myasthenia gravis (MG) patients without a thymoma — a tumor in the thymus — seems to be more effective than medications, according to a new review study from Brazil. The study, “Thymectomy in nonthymomatous myasthenia gravis — systematic…

Weekly infusions of Rituxan (rituximab) for four consecutive weeks followed by a monthly infusion for two months may be more effective than other Rituxan regimens in treatment‐resistant, MuSK antibody-positive myasthenia gravis (MuSK MG) patients, according to a small Spanish study. The study, “The impact of rituximab infusion protocol…

Proteins associated with the development of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) were found to aggravate the severity of myasthenia gravis (MG) in a mouse model, which could explain why patients with one disorder are more susceptible to the other condition. Findings were reported in the study, “NMO-IgG…

There are a number of unanswered questions for researchers and clinicians involved with myasthenia gravis (MG), from understanding the cause of the disease to finding an ideal treatment option for patients, according to a physician. Pedro J. Modrego, MD, from Miguel Servet University Hospital in Zaragoza, Spain, discusses this issue in an…

Blocking the signals of the interleukin-9 receptor, or IL-9R, delayed the progression of myasthenia gravis and reduced symptoms of the disease in rats, a study reports. The study, “Exogenous IL-9 Ameliorates Experimental Autoimmune Myasthenia Gravis Symptoms in Rats,” was published in the journal of…